ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Heavy rains and flash floods have wreaked havoc across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, claiming more than 400 lives in a matter of days.
Torrential downpours triggered landslides, road collapses and swelling rivers that swept away bridges, homes and entire villages.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, glacial streams and flash floods battered multiple areas. In Skardu, five bridges collapsed into rivers while in Chilas’s Ouchar stream several people were washed away, killing ten.
Casualties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa released updated figures from the past 48 hours, reporting 307 deaths. Among them were 279 men, 15 women and 13 children. At least 23 others were injured, including four women and two children.
The flooding damaged 74 homes in the province, with 11 completely destroyed and 63 partially damaged. The hardest-hit districts included Swat, Buner, Bajaur, Torghar, Mansehra, Shangla and Battagram.
ضلعی انتظامیہ شانگلہ کی نگرانی میں ہیوی مشینری کے ذریعے مختلف سڑکوں بشمول بازار کوٹ، یختنگئی تا پورن روڈ سے ملبہ ہٹا کر ٹریفک کی بحالی کے لئے کلیئرنس کا کام تیزی سے جاری ہے۔#KPFloodUpdates pic.twitter.com/BiOihGYjF0
— Government of KP (@GovernmentKP) August 16, 2025To support affected families, the provincial government has disbursed Rs500 million. Of this, Rs150 million has been allocated to Buner, while Rs100 million each went to Bajaur, Battagram and Mansehra, and Rs50 million to Swat.
Kashmir rescue
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, more than 700 tourists were trapped near Ratti Gali Lake when a 1.5-kilometre road was washed away. A rescue operation that began at 7am was completed by 3:30pm, with all tourists safely evacuated. A total of 98 vehicles were moved out of Neelum Valley during the operation.
Rescue 1122, district administration, police and Pakistan Army personnel participated. Authorities have urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel to vulnerable areas.
Buner tragedy
Buner district witnessed the heaviest toll, where flash floods and a cloudburst killed at least 184 people. Rescue operations were briefly suspended overnight due to darkness but resumed at first light. A flood emergency has now been imposed across the district.
Pakistan Army deploys additional troops in Buner for flood relief efforts
Entire villages were wiped out in Gadezi and Pir Baba, with markets, homes and even a police station submerged. Local hospitals were overwhelmed with casualties. District officials highlighted the bravery of local youth, who risked their lives to save a visiting family from Punjab.
Search in Battagram
In Battagram, 14 bodies were recovered from the Nandhyar River in Shamlai. Search teams continue looking for seven missing persons after floodwaters swept through Dheri Haleem village, where 28 people were washed away. Seven were rescued alive the previous day.
مکانباغ، منگورہ: سیلاب کے باعث نجی سکول میں پھنسے طلباء کو ضلعی انتظامیہ سوات اور ریسکیو 1122 کی بروقت کارروائی کے نتیجے میں بحفاظت محفوظ مقام پر منتقل کر دیا گیا۔ عوام سے اپیل ہے کہ سیلابی علاقوں اور خطرناک مقامات سے دور رہیں اور ہنگامی صورتحال فوری اطلاع دیں۔#KPFloodUpdates pic.twitter.com/Ui3YnEvJiL
— Government of KP (@GovernmentKP) August 15, 2025Rain forecast
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned of further rainfall from 18 to 22 August. Moderate to heavy showers are expected across Chitral, Dir, Haripur, Karak, Kohat, Kohistan, Khyber, Kurram, Mansehra, Mohmand, Nowshera, Malakand, Charsadda, Abbottabad, Bannu, Swabi, Peshawar, Waziristan and surrounding areas.
Rain is also likely in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, particularly in Astore, Skardu, Hunza, Shigar, Bagh, Neelum Valley and Muzaffarabad.
Global condolences
Expressions of grief have poured in from around the world. Saudi Arabia and Turkiye’s Foreign Affairs ministries issued separate statements conveying heartfelt condolences and solidarity with Pakistan.
Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia condole Pakistan on flood losses
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X expressing deep sorrow over the deaths and offered humanitarian assistance to flood-hit communities.
Kuwait’s Foreign Minister telephoned Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to extend condolences and offer help.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent a condolence letter to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, offering sympathy for the loss of lives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He conveyed best wishes for the injured and expressed solidarity with the affected families.
Earlier, Australian High Commissioner Neil Hawkins voiced his grief at the devastation, mourning the loss of over 200 lives and noting the sacrifice of rescuers who died in helicopter crashes during operations. He said Australia stood in solidarity with Pakistan at this difficult time.